Stories from Thursday, January 6, 2000

To the editor: This is in answer to the recent Speak Out comment, "Some weren't celebrating." If the caller doesn't want to celebrate Christmas, that's up to him or her. But to call the observance of Christmas pagan is a slap in the face of Christians who observe this festival out of thankfulness to God for the gift of his son Jesus Christ, the world's savior...

For 38 years, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has been promoting the arts in a variety of ways. Recent program additions and a clearer focus on the fine arts has earned the group statewide recognition from the Missouri Arts Council as a state model...

The banking industry, particularly from the perspective of depositors and borrowers, has changed significantly just in the last 15 years. The growth of multibank ownership and interstate banking -- both were widely prohibited until just a few years ago -- has been accompanies by tremendous technological changes in the way we handle our money...

Two events combined in 1920 to produce a societal about-face of great significance. On Jan. 16, the 18th Amendment took effect, and all over America the National Prohibition Act banned the sale and possession of alcohol. On Aug. 26, an 80-year struggle ended quietly when papers were signed ratifying the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote...

Bruce Schoen worked to get his whole community of Oak Ridge prepared for Y2K. The fact that nothing happened Jan. 1 doesn't bother him a bit. "We tried to find out who has generators if the power went out, who owns backhoes if we have to dig something out," said Schoen, who initiated Cape Girardeau County's first Neighborhood Watch program in more than a generation...

JACKSON -- Things were a little hectic as students milled around the new building at St. Paul Lutheran School Wednesday trying to find their classrooms. But Principal Al Lipke said the day passed "without any major glitches." Lipke said he spent most of the morning trying to "direct traffic" and help children find their classrooms in the new building. "They were somewhat lost and trying to find their way around," he said...

The American Society of Travel Agents is awaiting reaction to its "Fight Back" campaign, initiated late last year in the wake of the latest round of airline ticket commission cuts to travel agencies by several major airlines. The campaign features a variety of initiatives from filing a complaint with the secretary of transportation to rescinding commission cuts as an anti-competitive practice, to launching a letter-writing campaign to congressional representatives outlining how airlines' actions are hurting travel agencies.. ...

Jan. 6, 2000 Dear Julie, I have been wondering what happened to Barbara Mullen. The last time we saw each other she was sitting in the Alibi bar with a vodka and tonic, scratching open lottery tickets. She said she was going to go live in Hawaii near her daughter, Lucy...

BLOOMFIELD -- A large crowd is expected tonight for a public hearing on the Crowley Ridge Scenic Byway project in the Bootheel, but Stoddard County officials are wondering if the really important people -- those who could answer a lot of questions -- will indeed show up...

A collaborative effort to streamline the application process for utility assistance is also helping pinpoint other needs of those who apply for help. Under the umbrella of the Local Assistance Network, local agencies that help families pay delinquent utilities bills, including East Missouri Action Agency, American Red Cross and Salvation Army, in November began requiring individuals to begin the application process at EMAA...

A 37-year-old Cape Girardeau man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to conspiring to sell cocaine, the U.S. attorney's office said. Kenneth Wayne Pryor, along with Austin Alan Bain, 19, of Los Angeles, face a maximum punishment of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine for one felony count of conspiracy, and 20 years and a $1 million fine for possession of more than five grams of cocaine, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn...

BLOOMFIELD -- The trial of the grandmother and great-grandmother accused of selling a 2-week-old infant has been postponed, according to Circuit Court documents. Cathy Adams of Qulin, the grandmother of Baby Michael, and Mary Rakers of St. Louis County, the child's great-grandmother, had been scheduled for trial on Friday in Stoddard County Circuit Court. They are charged with selling the baby Oct. 17 for $20 to a Wardell couple...

U.S. Rep. Jim Talent decried big government and pushed his highway plan during a visit to Cape Girardeau Wednesday. The Republican candidate for governor told the Cape Girardeau Lion's Club that the state needs to issue bonds to fund highway improvements and complete the projects in Missouri's 15-year plan. About 50 people attended the meeting, held at the Holiday Inn...

OAK RIDGE -- Those who saw the team of Belgian draft horses in the Christmas Parade of Lights in Cape Girardeau were watching champions in action. Dutch Valley Linda and Country Pride Amy recently finished first in the Best Pair of Mares Hitched competition at the 1999 North American International draft Horse Show in Louisville, Ky...

SIKESTON -- A 25-year-old Sikeston man has been missing for more than a week, and police have no idea what happened. Undraus D. Nabors, who lived with his mother at 331 Sunset, was last seen by his girlfriend on Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. at his home in Sikeston...

MINER -- The new Interstate 55/State Route HH interchange opening at 10 a.m. today at the northern boundary of Miner in Scott County is creating excitement in the town of 1,200. "We did hit the jackpot," says Missy Marshall, who became the city's first administrator on Monday...

The U.S. Department of Education has set its sights on ways to recruit and better prepare teachers for the nation's elementary and secondary schools. The agency is hosting a conference in Washington, D.C., this weekend to focus on the issue. Five educators from Southeast Missouri are among those slated to attend the national conference on Sunday and Monday...

The federal agency responsible for an accurate population count is looking for enumerators and crew leaders to work in this area between four and six weeks. Enumerators -- people who will make contact with residents in gathering census information -- will be paid $10 an hour while crew leaders -- those who oversee the work of the enumerators -- will be paid $11.50 an hour, according to David L. Hay, recruiting assistant of the U.S. Census Bureau's Cape Girardeau office...

Tennessee State's men's basketball team is struggling big time with a 1-9 record, but that doesn't mean the Tigers aren't dangerous. So says Southeast Missouri State University coach Gary Garner, whose Indians will entertain the Tigers tonight in a 7:30 tipoff at the Show Me Center as Ohio Valley Conference play resumes for good...

Fresh off its first victory in almost a month, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will now look to start a winning streak as Ohio Valley Conference play resumes. The Otahkians, who knocked off Arkansas-Little Rock in overtime Monday night, have a pair of OVC home games this week, beginning with today's 5:30 p.m. contest against Tennessee State...

First-year Southeast Missouri State University women's gymnastics coach Patty Stotzheim isn't very familiar yet with Division I competition. But Stotzheim has gotten familiar enough with her new team to believe they have all the makings of an NCAA regional qualifier...

FARMINGTON -- Cape Central knocked off district foe Farmington with an impressive 67-54 victory Tuesday night. The Lady Tigers got 18 from Dionna Webb, 14 from Sara Hyslop and 12 from Katie Dougherty. "We played hard," said Central coach Darrick Smith. "We had some good performances."...

Funeral Mass for Joseph W. Miller of Moorhead, Minn., was held Dec. 23, 1999, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead. The Rev. Michael Foltz officiated. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato, Minn. Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead was in charge of arrangements...

ZALMA -- Mildred Icy Abernathy, 86, of Zalma died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 10, 1913, at Zalma, daughter of Gilbert and Rozina Gaines Sturgeon. She and Oral Abernathy were married Oct. 20, 1934, at Marble Hill. He died Feb. 20, 1996...

Ella Oliver died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel.

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for Charles Edwin Resch of Anna will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Rick Hertenstein will officiate. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today...

Paul Job, 72, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jenevie Sharknas, 75, of Burton, Mich., died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2000, at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint, Mich. She was born Feb. 9, 1924, in Jonesboro, daughter of Grover and Lena Lyerly. She and Alby G. Sharknas were married May 14, 1943. He died Nov. 6, 1996...

SIKESTON -- Martin Jewell "Pete" Ward, 85, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Aug. 4, 1914, at East Prairie, son of George and Frances Underwood Ward. He and Vernia Lorene Westmoland were married Feb. 15, 1936, at Charleston. She died Sept. 17, 1985...

ORAN -- Funeral for Alfred E. "Soup" Smith of Oran will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. Ed Carter will officiate. Burial will be in Lightner Cemetery at Scott City. Friends may call at the chapel after 4 p.m. today...

PERRYVILLE -- Ralph O. Bergman, 79, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at Perry Oaks Nursing Home. He was born July 22, 1920, in Perry County, son of Oscar J. and Hedwig "Hettie" R. Ochs Bergman. He and Doris M. Kramer were married July 29, 1945...

Marie Crader Miller, 69, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home In Jackson.

JACKSON -- Ernst Adam Hoffmann, 91, of Jackson died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 10, 1908, at Jackson, son of Otto Leopold Hoffmann and Sophie Reimann Hoffmann. He and Lula Menita Hollmann were married Dec. 20, 1935...

MILLERSVILLE -- Troy A. Proffer, 81, of Millersville died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. He was born Sept. 8, 1918, at Crump, son of Jess and Abby Proffer. He and Rosalie Bollinger were married Jan. 17, 1947. Proffer worked at the former International Shoe Co. in Jackson 35 years, retiring in 1980. He attended First Baptist Church in Millersville and First General Baptist Church in Jackson...

Daughter to Justin Todd and Kia Irene Warren of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:20 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999. Name, Daphne Shay Irene. Weight, 5 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Warren is the former Kia Abernathy, daughter of Doyal Abernathy and Mariesa Lesch of Jackson. Warren is the son of Sheryl Smith of Bertrand and Mike Roberds of East Prairie. He is employed at Rose Concrete Products in Scott City...

CHARLESTON -- Minnie Terry, 73, of Charleston died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at Charleston Manor Nursing Center. She was born March 17, 1926, in rural Sikeston, daughter of Willie and Virginia Bland Jackson. Terry was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church...